Last Spring, I signed us up for the Joseph Smith Senior 5K run (or walk). We received a tshirt and we were to take our pictures with our shirts on and send them in. With all that has been going on, I forgot. But we received a letter saying it wasn't too late, so we did a 3K today....just enough to get out and get a picture. From March to August, we often did a 5K around the Gilbert Temple, and around Gilbert....but I just never snapped a picture. For one thing, pictures of people melting in the heat are never attractive.
We took a walk along the Thames, into our favorite little church and cemetery, and hailed three women passing by to come and snap our pictures. SK was the one who did the hailing....the three were so happy and kind to help, but my goodness!...there they were out in 50 degree weather with miniskirts on and cleavage down to their navels.
I tried not to laugh at SK as he patiently explained to them that we wanted the church (they missed the top of it - which looks like a castle), our tshirts and our badges in the pictures. I'm certain that if they read our badges, they just assumed we were affiliated with that crumbling old church....if they even recognized it as a church. They were so cheerful and kind, I shouldn't be kidding about them. SK's sweet sister Mary suggested that we should have asked them if we could take their pictures! That would have been great!
Erin asked about the abandoned videos in our flat....here for your amusement are the very ones.
All day, we have been still enjoying the afterglow of an evening well spent. Family Home Evening was a resounding success. I think everyone is hungry for comfortable social experiences. Especially young people who are away from home for the first time. It is so nice to be able to provide that kind of an evening for them.
I have been working on a list of foods that can be kept on a shelf for a long period of time. The mission sent out an extensive list with recipes and menu plans. I thought it was a wonderful thing to do for the young missionaries, in case they are caught in a two-week lockdown, or as they are calling it here, a circuit breaker. Or - heaven forbid - they get sick and truly can't leave their place.
It occurred to me that our YSAs are in similar circumstances. Some have family within a few hours of here, and some are too far from family to even hope for help from them. The ward, with the Bishop and his wife are truly incredible....keeping tabs on every ward member, including the YSAs. But I want to send out this list and encourage each young adult to start setting aside a few items each week that can be kept on the shelf in case of a great need.
I haven't sent this out yet, but if you would like to chime in with any advice, please let me know. I will revisit it tomorrow, tweak it and send it.
If we were to be placed in a “circuit breaker” kind of a
lockdown for a couple of weeks, you would still be able to go out for food, but
it would be nice if you had a few things in your apartment to see you
through. You can store them in a grocery
bag in a corner somewhere and hold on to them “just in case.” Everything on the following list has a good
shelf life, but you would want to supplement with fresh fruits and vegetables.
(for your mothers’ sake!)
Look over the list, choose things that you like to eat, and
then purchase a little at a time. Buy
extra when you go to the store to be put away (one can of fruit or vegetables a
week, or a couple packages of dry soup or mac’ n cheese mix).
The following list is taken from the England London Mission “Food
Supply List” which has been distributed to all missionaries.
Suggested
Foods to Have on Hand in Case of a Lock-down:
Canned tuna, pork, chicken or beef, sardines
Canned soup or stew, chicken in curry, chicken in white
sauce, etc.
Canned beans (any variety), or canned vegetables (corn,
beans, peas, potatoes, etc.)
Canned or bottled marinara sauce, pesto sauce, tomato sauce,
Canned fruit (mandarin oranges, pineapple, pears, peaches,
applesauce)
Dried fruit (raisins, etc)
Dry beans, pasta, soup mixes, oatmeal, muesli, cereal,
granola, rice, ramen noodles, mac n’ cheese mixes, pancake mix
Peanut butter or WOW BUTTER (soy – a substitute for nuts),
jam, honey
Shelf milk, shelf soy milk, shelf almond milk
Comfort foods:
biscuits, cookies, hard candy, crackers, granola bars
Multi vitamin pills
If you need any help with menus or recipes, please contact
us.
I spoke with my dear friend Valerie last night. She looked great. Her face and smile were so very encouraging. She will conquer the cancer that has interrupted her life. She is nearly halfway there. Next Monday, she will have a hysterectomy, with 3 months of chemo behind her. After she has sufficiently healed from the operation, she will have about another 2 months of chemo, and at that point, she will be declared the victor - and free of cancer.
I think these very private and personal battles must be the most difficult ones we ever fight.
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